Saturday, February 25, 2006 | by nathan

I Am A Good Friend to the Metropolitan Library System…

Just got up from a nap-esque type activity. Brian and I made our way down to the State Fairgrounds for the Friends of the Metropolitan Library System Book Sale, where I spent $20 on the following:

CDs ($1/per):

Shawn Colvin, "Whole New You"

Annie Lennox, "Medusa"

Verdi, 2-CD set of highlights from "La Traviata" and "Otello"

Indigo Girls, "Come On Now Social"

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, "Hearts of Oak"

Mary Chapin Carpenter, "State of the Heart"

Puccini, 2-CD set of an old 1950’s recording of "La Boheme" 

VINYL ($1/per):

Ravel, The Complete Orchestral Works by the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra (vol. 2)

Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 in B Flat Minor, Op. 23 and Weber’s Konzertstuck in F minor, Op. 79 played by Claudio Arrau

Mozart Arias performed by Anna Moffo

Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18, performed by Eugene Istomin, piano, with The Philadelphia Orchestra with Eugene Ormandy, conductor.  

"How To Study and Why" by Bernice McCullar, M.A., Director of Information for the Georgia State Department of Education (c) 1964

BOOKS ($1 hardback, $.50 paperback): 

When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It’s Time To Go Home by Erma Bombeck

The 1980’s: Countdown to Armageddon by Hal Lindsey (should be funny)

The Dissent of the Governed by Stephen Carter

The Culture of Disbelief by Stephen Carter

The Gay and Lesbian Liberation Movement by Margaret Cruikshank

Morning Sun on a White Piano by Dr. Robin R. Meyers (my pastor)

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (saw the movie the other day, thought about reading the book again, thirteen years after I read it the last time).

MAGAZINES ($.25/per):

National Geographic from August 1952 (for my mom - that’s when she was born) and from June, 1960, for my dad, because when I was a kid he had this giant collection of National Geographics from way, way back, because he has subscribed to it for forever, and they were in the basement, which flooded one year and destroyed them all. So I got him one. More symbolic than anything, but I just felt like doing it.

Life magazine from June 1996 featuring a story on conjoined twins.

This is one of my favorite events every year. I volunteered at it for two years in a row in high school and remember having a whole lot of fun. As a writer I am weary of buying secondhand books, as the authors do not get any royalties from secondhand sales. (Incidentally, I had ordered Dr. Meyers’ book not two days ago, and Brian keeps telling me to cancel the order, but I just can’t. I’m just going to give that copy to someone).  But as someone who loves to read as much as I do I just cannot pass up the opportunity for such cheap books - and the CDs! All good stuff that I was excited to find, much of it in the original packaging, brand new. I was most excited about the recording of "La Boheme," which I love, and the vinyl of Mozart arias. Looking forward to giving those a good, long listen.

Was hoping to get some cookbooks, but those were either picked clean or absent. Ah, well. 

Tonight’s family dinner at mom’s; I actually need to start getting ready here in a minute. Laurie’s coming, which will be great, and I’m bringing the wine, and a movie. But which movie? I need to think about that for a little bit. Everybody enjoy your weekend.

School, Oklahoma